Beam control for spotlight



J. M. ROPER ETAL 2,249,785

July 22,1941.

BEAM CONTROL FOR SPOTLIGHT Filed Nov. 1, 1940 INVENTOR 1-D. D/RC/(JA'N BY JOhWM-EOPER ATHENEY Patented July 22, 1941 BEAM CONTROL FOR SPOTLIGHT John M. Roper, Washington, D. 0., and Arnold D. Dircksen, Dayton, Ohio Application November 1, 1940, Serial No. 363,863

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a beam control for spot light and has for an object. to provide a means for controlling the spread of the beam lightof a spot light as particularly desirable in use on aircraft, as well as on other vehicles.

A further object of this invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive, yet sturdy construction for adjusting the beam-spread of a spot light. A still further project of this invention is to provide a manually controllable means for adjusting the beam spread of a spot light which may be controlled by one hand of the operator while he maintains his control of the vehicle or airplane with his other hand.

With the foregoing-and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the drawing, in which:

Fig. '1 is a partly sectional and partly elevational view of the adjustable beam spot light of this invention; and

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section view of Fig. 1.

There is shown at l 8, conventional adjustable base on which is secured a socket ll supporting 1 the spot light lamp l2 in the socket base 13, the lamp [2 being located within the spot light reflecting housing H which is open at one end l5 for the beam light to emerge therefrom. Within this reflecting housing Hi there is supported a shutter l6 provided with a beam light hole II, this shutter it being located between the lamp l2 and the open end I5 of the spot light reflecting housing I4. This shutter I6 is supported on a pair of oppositely disposed ribs l8 which are joined together .to a nut through which extends a threaded shaft 2|. This shaft 2| is journalled through the rear l9 of the reflecting housing it and has secured thereon a knob 22 which may be knurled as at 23 for easy manipulation. A coil spring 24 about the threaded shaft 2| extends between the nut 20 and the rear I9 of the housing reflector I4 and serves to'press the nut it against the threads of the threaded shaft 2! and provide sufficient friction to hold the shaft 26 against accidental movement, yet permit easy manual rotation thereof. I

In operation, the knurled knob 22 may be rotated to move and retain the shutter l6 anywhere between the full line position shown at I6 where it permits a maximum amount of light concentrated as at of the light beam to the position at It where it permits a minimum amount of light in a wide spread, as at 28.

1 comprising a pair of ribs to which said shutter Other modifications and changes in the proportions and arrangements of the parts may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the nature of the invention, within the 1. A spot light beam adjustment means comprising a spot light reflecting housing, a spot light lamp within said housing, an apertured shutter between the spot light lamp and an open end of the spot light housing-and means for adjustably securing said apertured shutter within a longitudinal range of movement between said spot light lamp and said open end of said spot light housing, said adjustable securing means comprising a pair of ribsto which said shutter is secured, a nut in which said ribs terminate, a threaded shaft extending through said nut and journaled through a closed end of said spot light housing, and knob means secured to said threaded shaft external of said housing for manipulating the same.

2. A spot light beam adjustment means comprising a, spot light reflecting housing, a spot light lamp within said housing, an apertured shutter between the spot light lamp and an open end of the spot light housing, and means for adjustably securing said apertured shutter within a longitudinal range of movement between said spot light beam and said open end of said spot light housing, said adjustable securingmeans is secured, a nut in which said ribs terminate, a threaded shaft extending through said nut and journaled through a closed end of said spot light housing, knob means secured to said threaded shaft extending to said housing for manipulating the same, andva coil spring by said shaft between said nut and said closed housing and to frictionally hold said shutter in adjusted position.

3. An adjustable beam spot light comprising a cylindrically shaped spot light reflecting housing having one open end, and one closed end, a spot v threaded shaft journaled through said closed housing end, a knob externally of said housing I for manipulating said threaded shaft, a nutthreaded on said shaft and a pair of shutter supporting ribs extending from saidnut to said apertured shutter.

4. An adjustable beam spot light comprising a threaded shaft journaled through said closed housing end. a knob externally of said housing for manipulating said threaded shaft, a nut threaded on said shaft and a pair of shutter supcylindrically shaped spot light reflecting housing porting ribs extending from said nut to said apertured shutter, and means for irictionally holding said shutterin adjusted position comprising a coil spring about said shaft between said nut and said closed housing end.

JOHN M. ROPER. I ARNOLD D. DmCKSE-N. 

